Sir, – The tenth consecutive poll showing solid support for Scottish independence is a seminal moment; the momentum is now with the Yes movement.
The United Kingdom is crumbling. Internal borders have been imposed by the Tories in the Irish Sea and in Kent for freight. The Welsh Labour government have brought in a de facto border crossing with England. No more will British unionists be able to talk about an independent Scotland bringing in border posts with the UK.
In this context the Tories have given themselves and other MPs an 11% pay rise, while giving NHS staff nothing.
The Tories have had a woeful response to the worst pandemic in a century. The UK has the third worst coronavirus death toll in the world.
They have presided over the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression, the greatest collapse in GDP (20% Q2), the highest number of people unemployed (1.5 million ) since the 1980s and nearly £2 trillion in debt.
Yet the Tories have given no-bid public contracts to their cronies and turned the UK Government into a spigot for the super-rich, while everyone else sees their living standards eviscerated. The UK will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.
Alan Hinnrichs.
2 Gillespie Terrace,
Dundee.
Let’s put the Great back in Great Britain
Sir, – Boris Johnston is “ready and willing” to abandon Brexit trade talks if there are no signs of a deal soon. The two sticking points are fishing and state aid.
The EU wants to secure ongoing rights to fish in British waters. France should be told to relinquish the extremely generous rights they have under the Common Fisheries Policy, rules which decimated the UK fishing industry.
State Aid is where a company receives government support and gains an advantage over its competitors. The EU legislated against this practice – other EU countries circumnavigated them but not stick-by-the-rules Britain. The UK will soon be free of EU diktats so if our companies need a helping hand with state aid to get contracts at home and abroad, then that is what should be done.
Let’s put the Great back in Great Britain.
Clark Cross.
138 Springfield Road,
Linlithgow.
South Inch flooding no cause for reward
Sir, – As founder of the new South Inch Flood Group, I was astonished to see Councillor Murray Lyle nominated for a “councillor of the year” award.
His council can take responsibility for the flooding on Marshall Place in August, the aftermath of which residents still endure.
It was the second catastrophic operational error in four years in the South Inch flood defences. In 2016 the pumps failed, this time the council left a flood gate open.
We on the South Inch strongly contest the council’s notion that properties here are at risk due to “surface water flooding”. It hasn’t happened since the flood defences were built, except through mismanagement.
Residents have also been repeatedly flooded thanks to a drainage system in Perth unfit for the 21st Century – yet the council keeps building. Luckily, residents can protect themselves through non-return valves. They shouldn’t have to.
Given this avoidable harm on residents, why is this councillor getting accolades?
Felicity Graham.
Marshall Place,
Perth.
Toxic radioactive waste at Dalgety Bay
Sir, – Once again we are notified about the Ministry of Defence delay in cleaning up the toxic radioactive waste at Dalgety Bay “MoD under fire as toxic beach clean suffers new delay”, The Courier, October 16)
The letter written by local MP Neale Hanvey to the Secretary of State, Ben Wallace, is unlikely to be answered.
My letters to Ben Wallace, with proof of the high levels of radiation I was subjected to at Christmas Island in 1958 have not been answered.
Their arrogance in this matter shows the attitude they have to solving any problem.
David Whyte.
73 Blackcraigs,
Kirkcaldy.
